Idaho Auto Insurance Requirements – What Are They?
Reader’s Question:
Can I have my car registered Idaho and insure that vehicle in California? What are the Idaho auto insurance requirements?
Harold
Boise, ID
According to the ID Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to register a car in Idaho the vehicle must belong to an Idaho resident or business and the car must be titled in Idaho before it can be registered. Idaho residents who are temporarily in a different state (i.e., students or military personnel) may request titles and registrations for their cars through the mail.
If the state of Idaho does not require you to have your car insurance purchased through an Idaho Insurance company then it may be possible to insure the car in California if you are currently residing in California as a non-resident that does not need to register the vehicle there. For example if your permanent address is in Idaho but you are a college student in California your Idaho insurance company may not cover you to be in CA since the car is garaged in CA a majority of the year. You then may be able to acquire California insurance but you will likely need to get limits of 25/50/15 to meet Idaho’s minimum requirements since your car is registered in that state.
So if you want to have your vehicle registered in Idaho and insured in CA you will need check with the ID Department of Motor Vehicle first to make certain it is okay then look for an insurance carrier that would provide you this type of car insurance policy.
Driving Without Insurance Idaho – Will I Go To Jail?
Reader’s Question:
My 15 years old son who does not have a license yet, without my permission took my vehicle, drove it and got involved in an accident with another vehicle due improper left turn. No injuries on both cars but both vehicles have damages. The other vehicle is insured, my car is not. This occurred in Boise, Idaho. My question is , what legal consequences he might have or what should we be expecting from all this?
Jerry
Boise, ID
If the household member that took the vehicle is found to be at-fault in a crash there is the possibility that you could be held responsible since you are the owner of the car. The driver is liable as well and the other party will go after for the damages and may file it with their insurance provider.
As for your son’s case; the state maintains driving histories even for those without a drivers license, and requires all motorists under seventeen to comply with the requirements of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program before they can get a drivers license.
If there was a police report filed, then he could have a lot of violations filed against him including driving without owner’s permission and driving without a license. These infractions could affect his eligibility to obtain his license, and as well as his insurance rates in Boise Idaho once he gets his license.
